Forest Products Industry

Australia’s National Plantation Strategy Coordinator David Thompson recently made presentations to the WA Minister for Forestry, Terry Redman, the WA Forest Products Commission and industry representatives regarding future wood supplies and plantation investment mechanisms. In part, this was in response to commentary that Australia is facing a ‘wood glut’ under current forestry MIS arrangements, and that there is no need to expand the plantation estate.

In order to develop the necessary harvesting and haulage capacity, ABP is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) for the provision of harvesting and transport services.

ABS Building Approvals show that the total number of dwellings approved rose in July 2010 following falls in the previous three months in seasonally adjusted terms.

The NZ Government should underwrite the growing of millions of forestry seedlings if it wants to meet its climate change planting goal. Current planting levels are far below the 30,000ha of new forest a year for 10 years needed to meet the country’s greenhouse gas emissions target. Four thousand hectares were planted last year and just 2000ha the year before.

Balterio intends to invest a total of around €12m in modernising laminate flooring production at the location of Vielsalm in Belgium as well as in product development and additional marketing measures.

Finland’s exports of softwood lumber showed conspicuous growth in April and May 2010, after exports had plummeted by 41% in March.

The Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) notes the release of the State Government's final response to the report of the Bushfire Royal Commission.

A national and international line up of geographical information systems (GIS) experts will be punching Rotorua’s coordinates into their sat-navs in October, as they converge on the city for a unique forestry event.

Demand for fire doors has improved but government spending cuts are expected to impact sales

Manufacturing and housebuilding have both recorded growth but there’s still a long road ahead

MONTREAL, Sept. 3 /CNW Telbec/ - Boralex Power Income Fund (the "Fund") has today declared a cash distribution in the amount of $0.01667 for the period from September 1, 2010 to September 15, 2010, being the expiry date of the offer made Boralex Inc. ("Boralex") to acquire all the issued and

The first half of 2010 saw western timber markets begin to recover after hitting historical lows in mid 2009. The upturn was fueled by optimism in domestic housing markets and strong export demand from Asian markets. In June, when the first time home-buyer credit expired, new home starts fell further than predicted. Things continued to get worse, culminating this week when the lowest seasonally adjusted housing start numbers in more than a decade were released. Housing starts fell twice as fast as the National Association of Realtors had originally predicted. In response, many lumber and panel buyers reduced inventories and some producers have been forced to close shop. Inventory reduction made its way upstream to timber companies in July.

Howarth Timber Engineering has supplied engineered timber joists, insulated structural spandrel wall panels, soffits and fascia boards for the construction of 13 new social housing bungalows...

Sarawak has continued to increase imports of raw materials for its processing industry, according to the International Tropical Timber Organisation’s latest market report.

The Brazilian Forest Certification Programme has submitted its revised system for PEFC endorsement.

The first container of Lyptus branded eucalyptus decking has landed in the UK.

A slowdown in residential construction led to a weakening of UK construction sector growth for the third successive month, according to a new Markit/Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply report.

The Plywood Club of London will kick off the new season at a new venue and with a high profile speaker – Dr Peter Bonfield, BRE chief executive...

Tembec has announced the permanent closure of its newsprint mill located in Pine Falls, Manitoba.

The mill had been indefinitely idled due to a labour dispute on September 1, 2009. After examining a full range of options, Tembec initiated a sales process for the mill in early January 2010. This sales process has proved unsuccessful. After a thorough analysis of the situation, Tembec concluded that the permanent closure of the facility was the only viable option. Approximately 230 employees will be affected.

"Although not an easy decision to make, the structural decline of the newsprint market and the cost structure of the mill prompted such a decision," said Chris Black, Tembec's Executive Vice President and President, Paper Group. "The Company intends to act in a manner that will ensure that employees receive their severance pay in accordance with the collective agreement."

As a result of this announcement, a net charge of approximately $8 million related to the closure will be recorded in the quarter ending September 25, 2010.

Source: Tembec

Posted by ForestTalk.com